Public Spaces

GRANDVILLE, Mich.—Congressman Bill Huizenga is looking for student artwork to adorn the U.S. Capitol.

Now through April 17, high school students from the Second District are encouraged to submit their entries in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Each student may only submit one entry to Congressman Huizenga’s office, located at 4555 Wilson Ave. SW in Grandville.

"The Congressional Art Competition is an excellent platform for young artists to challenge themselves and explore their artistic ability as well as their creativity,” said Huizenga. “Students from across West Michigan have impressed thousands of visitors to the U.S. Capitol with their artwork and I cannot wait to see what this year’s competition has in store.”

HOLLAND, Mich. — Some area children will get swim lessons for free this summer, thanks to a partnership between the city and Holland Community Aquatic Center.

Under the partnership, the Aquatic Center will expand programming at Bouws Pool to include competitive swimming, competitive diving and free swim lessons. The free lessons will be open to children ages four and older who qualify for a free/reduced lunch program.

To cover the cost, the Aquatic Center has applied for a grant from USA Swimming and is calling on the community for donations. Each $50 donation would cover eight swimming lessons for a child. Donations can be made through the Aquatic Center’s website or in person at the Aquatic Center's front desk. The Aquatic Center is located at 550 Maple Ave.

LANSING, Mich.—State Sen. Mark Jansen tops the list of West Michigan lawmakers who missed the most votes this year, according to the Missed Votes Report compiled by Jack McHugh, editor of MichiganVotes.org.

Jansen missed 46 votes between January and December of this year. The District 28 Republican represents a large portion of Kent County, including Ada, Algoma, Alpine, Cannon, Courtland, Grand Rapids and Plainfield townships, as well as East Grand Rapids, Rockford, Walker and Wyoming.

State Rep. Jon Bumstead, who represents Newaygo, Lake and Oceana counties, had the most missed votes among West Michigan lawmakers in the House, with 21 this year.

Three senators and three representatives missed 50 or more votes this year. The top offenders were Rep. John Olumba of Detroit, with 233 missed votes, and Sen. Bert Johnson of Detroit, with 187 missed votes.

ZEELAND, Mich.—While many families are preparing for Thanksgiving, the City of Zeeland will be kicking off the Christmas season this week.

The city Christmas tree will make its grand entrance down Main Street Tuesday, Nov. 25 around 10 a.m. This year’s tree is a Concolor Fir from Dutchman Tree Farm in Manton, Michigan, which is the largest Christmas tree farm in the country. The tree farm previously supplied trees to Ford Field and Universal Studios.

Zeeland’s tree stands over 29 feet tall, which means a team of city workers will be needed to position it on its stand at the center of the city’s new splash pad. The splash pad was actually designed to accommodate the large tree, which will be fully lit with LEDs provided by Holiday Lighting of Zeeland.

HOLLAND, Mich.—Holland would be home to a “Food Innovation District”, under a design plan recently revealed by the Michigan Municipal League.

The PlacePlan project focuses on Holland’s Western Gateway, around the farmers market and civic center building. The plan calls for extending downtown Holland and linking it to the Lake Macatawa waterfront with a new district focused on the area’s food industry. The plan also identifies opportunities for new business growth in and around downtown, as well as expansion of the area’s cultural, economic and environmental assets. The design is meant to encourage economic development around a walkable downtown district.

WMU-COOLEY LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR AND RETIRED BRIGADIER GENERAL MICHAEL C.H. McDANIEL

PARTICIPATES IN WEST MICHIGAN DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – To honor all those who sacrificed their lives during the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, the Gerald R. Ford Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Museum hosted the 13th annual Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute from sunrise to sunset on September 11, 2014. WMU-Cooley Law School Professor and retired Brigadier General Michael C.H.

HOLLAND, Mich. – Some 400 Hope College students will participate in service projects throughout the area through the college’s “Time to Serve” program on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Most of the students will be members of the freshman Class of 2018. The students signed up for the mass volunteer effort shortly after their arrival at Hope, during New Student Orientation.

The students will be working in groups of six to 10 at nearly 40 sites from 10 a.m. to approximately 2:30 p.m. Projects are scheduled throughout the Holland and Zeeland area, and will include sorting Bibles for Mexico, cleaning The Critter Barn, working on a home with Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity and groundskeeping and cleaning at many area churches.